A Mars Colony in Our Lifetimes?

[Cormac]

The cheap option would be for NASA to put up a prize of 10 Billion for folks who could replace the space shuttle capabilities. and another 10 Billion for a resusable Moon Shuttle. and maybe even have the prize for the first 3!......and then let the market decide which is "best".

For the moon it should not too hard to deliver the equipment to build a moonbase by unmanned vehicles (for later construction IKEA style!). Most of the work could be done by robots - even if humans needed to do the finishing off. Obviously lots of trial and error but lessons learnt would be of use to do the same later on Mars (and elsewhere).

Me would also build a base on Uranus - just because it would be funny..........

Is that why aliens are addicted to anal probing?

[Jesus_of_Nazareth]

Yes.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

[Cormac]

[That Alien Guy.]

We're not addicted to anal probing, it's just "Anally probed monkeys say the funniest things" is a side project we've got on the go while producing season 473 of "chimp wars". Remember last chimp standing gets a shiny gold jesus banana, so go blow up a mosque or creche (same things right?) today. Conflagrate!

Worry about Mars when you can colonise your own fronxing planet.

[Cormac]

Don't listen to him. He is trying to distract you so that he can sneakily probe your anus with his tentacles...

[JimC]

Oooooohhhh, tentacles!

Anybody else thinking calamari with garlic and white wine?

[Cormac]

Oooooohhhh, tentacles!

Anybody else thinking calamari with garlic and white wine?

Normally, yes, but not after they've been rectally inserted.

[JimC]

Oooooohhhh, tentacles!

Anybody else thinking calamari with garlic and white wine?

Normally, yes, but not after they've been rectally inserted.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

"Why do people always say that! What am I doing, collecting farts?" "Paul" (actually Seth Rogen)

This sad case of disinformation is obviously being spouted by a government shill to hide the fact that human farts are actually used as currency throughout the galaxy. I know this is true, I read it on Infowars.

[Cormac]

[Cormac]

"Why do people always say that! What am I doing, collecting farts?" "Paul" (actually Seth Rogen)

This sad case of disinformation is obviously being spouted by a government shill to hide the fact that human farts are actually used as currency throughout the galaxy. I know this is true, I read it on Infowars.

I think mine might rather debase that currency...

[Tyrannical]

Mind you, we don't need to get ships into orbit. We could use a meteoroid or asteroid as a "vehicle", strap the bits and pieces we need to it, and fling it off to Mars by adjusting its direction.

Alternatively, we could crash it into the moon, and manufacture a basic structure out of it. This could be easily launched off the moon, and flown to Mars. Then all we'd need to get into orbit would be supplies and materials. This could be done in multiple launches of existing rockets.

I'm familiar with the science fiction of doing that, but that's just crazy talk Strap on engines? Easily launch a small mountain from the Moon? Without a magical sci-fi propulsion device you can't drive around in a hugely massive rock ship. If you want a "Space Ark", they made estimates of an 8,000,000 ton nuclear bomb powered Orion craft in the 60's.

[Blind groper]

Logically, for regular travel to and from Mars, which would be required for a colony, you need three vehicles.

1. The craft for getting out of Earth's gravity well.
2. An interplanetary craft, which never enters a gravity well. It would spin for pseudogravity and have a magnetic field generator for protection against charged particle radiation. It would use ion drive engines for travel. Craft 1 would refuel it.
3. A Mars lander. This would be similar to craft 1 but probably smaller, since it need not battle quite such a large gravity well. The Mars lander would simply travel up and down between the Mars colony and the Mars orbital station. It would be refueled with material made on Mars, like water ice electrolysed and liquified to supply liquid oxygen and hydrogen.

[JimC]

Logically, for regular travel to and from Mars, which would be required for a colony, you need three vehicles.

1. The craft for getting out of Earth's gravity well.
2. An interplanetary craft, which never enters a gravity well. It would spin for pseudogravity and have a magnetic field generator for protection against charged particle radiation. It would use ion drive engines for travel. Craft 1 would refuel it.
3. A Mars lander. This would be similar to craft 1 but probably smaller, since it need not battle quite such a large gravity well. The Mars lander would simply travel up and down between the Mars colony and the Mars orbital station. It would be refueled with material made on Mars, like water ice electrolysed and liquified to supply liquid oxygen and hydrogen.

And, for safety, maintenance scheduling and efficiency, at least 2 of each. Also, an orbiting docking station around Mars with a fuel reserve.